| You might be tempted to let Mother Nature, | | | | fish waste and can wreak havoc with your |
| tend to your backyard | | | | Koi's health. After a |
| | | | |
| pond, and who could blame you? After all, | | | | while Mother Nature will kick in some help |
| she does a pretty good | | | | by allowing beneficial |
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| job of taking care of really big ponds, so | | | | bacteria colonies to develop that enjoy |
| why would your | | | | eating nitrite and |
| | | | |
| backyard ecosystem pose much of a challenge | | | | ammonia for breakfast, lunch and dinner. |
| to her?Unfortunately, the fact is your | | | | They won't be present in |
| backyard pond is only going to | | | | |
| | | | new ponds, however, unless you buy some |
| get some cursory attention from Mom; the | | | | bacteria starter kits to |
| rest of the work is | | | | |
| | | | kick start the process.Your garden pond |
| going to be left up to you.In the "real | | | | could become overtaxed, ecologically, if you |
| world" chlorinated water doesn't find its way | | | | add |
| into | | | | |
| | | | too many fish too quickly. Start out adding |
| ponds very often. "Big" pond water passes | | | | no more than two per |
| through a great many | | | | |
| | | | week so that the newly introduced bacteria |
| natural filtration and oxygenation systems, | | | | do not get overwhelmed |
| and the various fish | | | | |
| | | | by the waste that will be produced.Just when |
| and flora work together to keep the pond | | | | you think you've got it all under control |
| clean and fresh. Our | | | | that ugly |
| | | | |
| backyard ponds don't have quite that much | | | | thing called "pH" raises its head. Testing |
| help, so here's where | | | | for pH levels is also |
| | | | |
| you need to step in:If you are going to keep | | | | very important since neither plants nor fish |
| fish then you absolutely must remove all | | | | will survive very |
| | | | |
| traces of chlorine from your pond before | | | | long if the pond's pH is out of whack. Your |
| your favorite Koi set up | | | | pH test kit should |
| | | | |
| housekeeping. Pond fish cannot live in | | | | show a reading of between 6.8 and 7.4. You |
| chlorinated water so don't | | | | can add the proper |
| | | | |
| even try. There are many products available | | | | chemicals to raise or lower if as |
| to remove chlorine | | | | neccessary.Speaking of test kits, get one |
| | | | that will allow you to test the |
| quickly, or you can opt for the | | | | |
| old-fashioned, natural way if you | | | | pond's salt levels as well. Unless you're |
| | | | raising baby Sea bass, |
| have the time to spend.If you opt for 'a la | | | | |
| natural' then expect to wait about 8 to 10 | | | | too much salt is not a good thing.After your |
| | | | pond is fully established, Mother Nature will |
| days for the chlorine to dissipate. You will | | | | lend a |
| need to make sure | | | | |
| | | | bigger hand and you can settle into a |
| that your pump and filter are running and | | | | routine of testing every |
| that you have set up an | | | | |
| | | | three of four weeks unless something |
| aerating method such as a waterfall or | | | | serious, such as flooding, |
| "splasher" to bring oxygen | | | | |
| | | | has occurred in between.Brett Fogle is the |
| into the water. Make sure that the pond is | | | | owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several |
| exposed to plenty of | | | | |
| | | | other pond-related websites including |
| sunlight (the natural enemy of chlorine), | | | | |
| and use a chlorine | | | | and He |
| | | | |
| testing kit to check the water daily.Me? I | | | | also publishes a free monthly |
| just drop some de-chlorinating product into | | | | |
| the pond and | | | | newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader |
| | | | circulation of over |
| check back the next day.Even if chlorine is | | | | |
| totally removed, you still have nitrite and | | | | 9,000. To sign up for the free newsletter |
| | | | and receive our FREE |
| ammonia to worry about. These two toxic | | | | |
| buddies are byproducts of | | | | 'New Pond Owners Guide' visit MacArthur |
| | | | Water Gardens today! |